Sewing-machine and folding mechanism therefor.



J. R. MOFFATT. SEWING MACHFNE AND FOLDING MECHANISM THEREFUH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6.1914- 1 ,271 ,059. Patented J uly 2, 1918.

5 SHEETS SHEET I avnmntoz wihwwco v 1/ I I. R. MOFFATT.

SEWING MACHINE AND FOLDING MECHANISM THEREFOR,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 19:4. 1,271,059.

Patented J uly 2, 1918.

5SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

J. R. MUFFATT. SEWING MACHINE AND FOLDING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 6. 19M. 1 ,271,059. Patented July 2,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v @nuenlior fi m Wihwema-n n I I J. R. MOFFATI. SEWING MACHINE ANDFOLDING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATIQN FILED APR. 6.19M. 1,271,059. Patented July 2,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

::.\\\\\\\\\\\\wnv \w n 1 a III/IA J. R. MOFFATT.

SEWING MACHINE AND FOLDING MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6.1924.

1 ,27 1 ,059. Patented July 2, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT orFIoIa JAMES B. MOFFA'IT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASS IGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORYOBATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Application filed April 6, 1914. Serial No. 829,912.

'1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. MOFFATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines and.

Folding Mechanisms Therefor, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures ofreference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, and moreespecially to a sewing machine of the cup feed type, wherein thematerial is fed by two feed disks and overseamed by suitable stitchforming mechanism combined-with a folding device cooperating with thestitch formin mechanism whereby a narrow strip of fa ric may be foldedand fed to the overseaming mechanism, and small tubes with the raw edgescovered formed, or the raw edges covered and blindstitched in the centerto the body fabric, as in the 'form-ation of fiat, trousers belt-loops.

A sewing machine of the character referred to is well known in the art,being used for glove sewing, sweater sewing, stocking hemming, &c., andthe particular type to which the present invention relates is known asthe Union Special cup feed machine.

The object of the present invention is primarily to provide acombination of folder and machine for the purpose above referred to.

Still another object is to provide a folder for a sewing machine, incombination witha trimmer, the two being simultaneously and uniformlyadjustable bodily with respect to the stitch forming mechanism.

The invention, therefore, consists in the matters hereinafter describedand referred to in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a cup feed machine,showing my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the folding device and'cup feeds;

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of the folder detached;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same, w th the movable member of thefolder swung vertically to allow insertion of the material;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View, showing the folder in position and themovable member retracted to initially position the material;

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the folder in operative position when themachine is operating on the material;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views representing the formation of blindstitched and tubular strips respectively;

Figs. 10 and 11 represent the strips as completed according to Figs. 8and 9, respectively;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through a portion of the machine;

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan, illustrating the lateral adjustment of thefolder; and

Fig. 14 is a view in side elevation, showing the means for separatingthe feed cups;

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the same.

In these drawings, 1 represents a portion of the casin of a cupfeed-machine of the type referre to, having the two cup-filling disks 2,2. The needle isshown at 3, the looper at l, the deflector for bothneedle and looper thread loops at 5, the support forholding up the edgeof the fabric at 6, the stitch finger at 7, the plate having theneedle-guiding roove at 8, the needle thread guides at 9, an the looperthread guides at 10. All these parts are of the usual construction, andneed not be more specifically referred to. A supporting bracket 11adjustably supported on the frame of the machine by the elongated slotand screw connection 12, is divided at its lower end, and has secured toit a part 13, having the vertical plate 11', through which slot andscrew connection 12 is made with the machine frame. =This part 13supports the folder and trimmer.

The folder has a stationary base 14 adjustahly secured by screws 15 tothe part 13 (see Fig. 13). The stationary base carries the stationaryside wings 16 and central fin 17. These wings extend forwardly betweenthe cups 2, the central fin well in, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 at 34,and attached to the outside of the side wings byscrews 18, are springfingers 19. The movable part of the folder is comppsed of a bar 20formed with at 21 to the base 1-1. A spring 25 secured by screws 22 tothe yoke piece and adapted to be engaged by a pivoted latch 26, normallyholds the bar 20 from being swung upwardly.

This bar 20 carries a slidable sleeve 27, to which are attached the twospaced fingers which when swung down to position, straddle the centralfin 17 and cooperate there-with. and with the side wings 16 to properlyfold the material as it is fed tothe cups. The forward ends of thefingers 28 are toothed, as at 29, to engage the material and push itinto the cups as the sleeve 27 is slid forward on the bar 20, and thein-nerfaces of the spring fingers 19 have teeth 30 to prevent thewithdrawal of the materiaL The spring fingers 19 also accommodatedifferent thicknesses of material. and extend beyond the ledger bladesas hereinafter described. A stop pin 47 limits the movement of thesleeve '27.

The operation of the folder is as follows: The latch :26 is released andthe bar 20 with the sliding sleeve and fingers 28 swung upwardly; thegoods are then placed in position across the stationary wings and fin ofthe folder, and the movable part swung down, so that the spaced fingerswill straddle the fin and form the fold in the fabric. Before returningthe part to its normal posi- TttlOIl. the sleeveis moved rearwardly, andwhen the lowered position is reached, the slide '27 is shifted along thebar 20, to push the material into the cups, so they' will take hold ofthe same. Occasionally this movement is not enough to shift the materiala suflicient distance to permit the cups to act thereon. It is.therefore, necessary to return the sleeve for a short distance andrepeatifihe operation, the teeth 30 at the end of the spring fingers 19gripping the material and preventing it from being pulled back with thereturn movement of the sleeve 27.

It will thus be seen that the movable part not only cotiperates with thestationary part. to fold the material to proper shape to have the edgesoval-seamed. but also enables the operative to initially position thematerial between the cups. The bodily vertical adjustment of thisfolding device through the slot and screw adjustment 1'2. enables thebite of the needle into the goods to be varied, so that it may eitherengage the portion of the fabric which is pressed up from the center ofthe fin 17 cooperating with the spaced fingers '28. thus over-seamingthe edges and uniting them to the body fabric at. the center. as inFigs. 8 and 10, or simply uniting the edges and overseaming them. as inFig.

9. making a tube. as shown in Fig. 11.

A gage 35 composed of a suitably graduated nut bears on the ledge 36formed on the vertical part of the bracket 11. and by manipulating thesame; the precise adjustment 32 of the trimmer,

desired may be secured, as shown in detail in Fig. 12.

In connection with this folder, I have devised a trimming deviceincluding a horizontal trnnmlng blade 31, which reciprocates backandforth and acts in connection with stationary ledger blades 32 which formextensions of the side wings 16 to trim olf the surplus material. thetrimming mechanism as a whole being supported on the same bracket as thefolder, and partaking of the adjustments of the latter.

It also has a deflecting plate 33 to deflect the trimmed ofi' strips.

In Figs. 14 and 15, I have illustrated, respectively, in side elevationand in bottom plan, the means for limiting the pivotal movement of theouter cup, the same being substantially as illustrated in applicationfiled by Lansing Onderdonk on October 28th. 1913. Serial No. 797.771. Inthese figures. the outer cup is pivoted on a pin or shaft 37, carried bythe inner cup. This outer cup carries a rigid arm 38, the free end ofsuch rigid arm carrying a lateral pin 39. This pin extends outwardlythrough a slot 40 formed in the casing and its up and down movements arelimited by set'screws 11 and 42, the screw 11 entering the slot 10 fromthe bottom of the frame and the screw 1:2 enter ing the upper part ofthe slot through an opening 43 in the casing. The foot lever A ispivoted at 15 to the casing and its forward end extends under the pin39. This pin 39 is yieldably held against the slower stop or screw 11 bythe usual flat spring 46. It. will thus be seen that, by adjusting thescrew 41. the outer cup will be held in difl'erent spaced relationsrelative to the inner cup.

I do not herein claim the trimming mechanism, as that forms the subjectmatter of another application filed by me of even date herewith. SerialNo. 829,913, but I do claim herein the combination of the folder andtrimmer simultaneously and uniformly ad justable. and the ledger blades32 forming an extension of 'the side wings 16 of the folder, and thecombination so far as the specific folder and the trimming mechanismoperate to perform functions together, as distinguished from theirindependent purposes.

I do not. also, herein claim the folding mechanism per are, as thatforms the subject matter of another application filed by me of even dateherewith. Serial No. 829,911.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sewing n'iachine-including in combination. a stitch-formingmechanism having a needle, a folding device "for folding *a fabric andplacing the edges thereof side by side, a trimming device for trimmingsaid edges, a common support for said folding device and said trimmingdevice. and means for adjusting said support relative to the needle.

2. In an overseaming machine inchiding a horizontal needle and cioperating stitch forming devices. a folding device comprisingvertically arranged istationa r v wings and cooperating folding members,and a movable trimming member with means for reciprocating ithorizontally, and a common vertirally adjustable support for the foldingdevice and trimming member.

3. In a sewing machine, stitch forming mechanism, including a needleentering and emerging on the same face of the fabric. and cooperatingstitch forn'ting mechanism. a folding device having side portions forfolding the side edges of the fabric, and means for crimping the bodyportion of the fabric, said crimping means extending to the stitchingpoint and being arranged in a plane which intersects the path ofmovement of the needle. whereby said needle will pass through both sideportions and through the central portion of the fabric.

4. In a sewing machine. stitch forming mechanism. including a needleentering and emerging on the same face of the fabric. and cooperatingstitch forming i'nechanism, a folding device having side portions forfolding the side edges of the fabric. means for crin'lping the bodyportion of the fabric. said crimping means extending to the stitchingpoint and being arranged in a plane which intersects the path ofmovement of the needle. Whereb said needle will pass through bo h sideportions and through the central portion of the fabric. and meanscooperating with the crimping means-for initially feed ing the material.

5.111 a sewing lltiltlllll0 a needle and cot'iperativc stitch formingn'techanistn. a device for folding a fabric into substantially W-shapedformation. a feeding mechanism for feeding the folded fabric past theneedle, whereby said needle will pass through the edges of both sideportions and said central portion of the fabric. and devices acting onthe fabric at the deliverr end of the folder and attached to the folderto maintain the va rir in its folded relation until acted upon h saidfeeding mechanism.

(3. In a sewing machine including a needle entcrit-ig and emerging onthe same face of the fabric and cooperative stitch forming mechanism. adevice for folding a fabric comprising a fixed member constructed toform a trough open at both ends and top. and a movable part cooperatingwith said tixed member to fold said fabric in said trough in asubstantiallv W-shaped formation. said folding device t'lelivering saidfolded fabric to the stitching p int, and a feeding l'IlQCl'ltlDiSlltfor feeding the folded fabric past said needle. whereby said needle tralportion, and yieldable means disposed between the feedin; mechanism andthe folding device to direct the side portions of the fabric togetherbef'olcsaid folded fabric.

enters the feeding mechanism.

8. A. sewing machine including in combination. a ntedlc. a foldingdevicefor folding a strip of fabric so as to bring its side edges together andfor rrintping the fabric bctween its side edges and POsitlUllll'ig thesame relative to the needle. so the needle passes through the side edgesand through lhe'central critnped portion for joining the .same. and atrimming device located in ad vance of the needle for trimming the edgesprior to the stitchin of the satne.

9. A sewing machine including in combination. a needle. a folding devicefor folding a strip of fabric so as to bring its side edges together andfor crimpingthe fabric between its side edges and positioning the samerelative to the needle. so the needle passes through the side edges andthrough the central erimped portion for joining the same. a trimmingdevice located in advance of the needle for trimming the edges prior tothe stitching of the saute. and means for supporting said folding deviceand trimming device whereby the same may be. simultaneously adjustedrelative to the needle.

10. In a sewing machine. a pair of feeding cups. a needle reciprocatingabove said cups and a loop taker cooperating therewith. a work supportdisposed in advance of said cups and having a part extending forwardlybetween the cups to a point substantially in line with said needle, anda folding device mounted on said support.

11. In a sewing machine. a pair of feeding cups havingverticallydisposed feeding surfaces one of said cups being; movable. a stop toretain said movable cup in spaced relation to the other cup. means foryieldablr retaining said cup in said spaced relation. a folding deviceincluding a support having a ribprojecting between said feedin; surface.and means for laterally adjusting the position of said rib relative tosaid feeding surface.

In a sewing machine, a pair. of feeding cups having vertically disposed.feeding surface, one of said cups betng movable, a stop to retain saidmovable cup to spaced relation to the other cup. means for yieldablyretaining said cup in said spaced relation. a folding device including asupport having a rib projecting between said feeding surface. and meansfor laterally adjusting the position of said rib relative to saidfeeding surface. and means to adjust said stop to vary the space betweensaid cups.

I In a sewing machine. the comliination of a stitch forming mechanismincluding spaced rotatable feed cups, and a crimping device disposed onone side of said cups and in advance of the stitch forming mechanism andhaving its forward end projecting between said cups and tapered tosubstantially conform to the adjacent portions of the periphery of saidcups.

ll. In a sewing machine hating horizontal cup-feeding devices. and anoverseaming stitch forming mechanism. a folding device including fixedwings extending forwardly between the cups. a swinging member carrying awing cooperating with the stationary wings to fold the fabric. said wingbeing slidably supported on said swinging member.

1.3. In a sewing machine having horizontal cup feeding devices. and anoverseaming stitch forming mechanism, a filding device including fixedside wings and a central fin extending forwardly between the cups, aswinging bar, a sleeve slidable thereon, spaced fingers carried by saidsleeve and straddling the fin when the bar is swung down.

16. In a sewing machine having horizontal cup feeding devices and anoverseaming stitch fori'ning mechanism, a folding device including fixedside wings and a central fin extending forwardly between the cups, aswinging bar, a sleeve slidable thereon, spaced fingers carried by saidsleeve and straddling the tin when the bar is swung down, said fingershaving teeth at their forward ends.

17 In a sewing machine having horizontal c'up feeding devices and anoverseaming stitch forming mechanism, a folding device including fixedside wings and a central fin extending forwardly between the cup aswinging bar, a sleeve slidable thereon, spaced fingers carried by saidsleeve and straddling the tin when the bar is swung down, said fingershaving teeth at their forward ends. and spring fingers projecting inadvance of the stationary wings and having teeth on their inner faces.

18. Iira sewing machine having horizontal cup feeding devices and anoverseaming stitch forming mechanism. a folding device including fixedside wings and a central fin extending forwardly between the cups, aswinging bar, a sleeve slidable thereon, spaced fingers carried by saxdsleeve and ing a central crimp therein, and means for verticallyadjusting the folder bodily, whereby the central crimped portion may hecaught by the needle and sewed to the overseamed edges, or the edges maybe.

overseamed and united and a tube formed.

20. In a cup feed overseaming machine for blind stitching belt loops, afolding device comprising stationary vertically projecting side wingsand a central crimping fin, and a cooperating folding member movablevertically to engage and crimp and fold the fabric, and means whereby itmay be moved. horizontally to 'initially feed .the material to the cups.

:21. In a cup feed overseaming machine for blind stitching belt loops, afolding device comprising stationary vertically projecting side wingsand a central crimping fin, and a cooperating folding member movablevertically to engage and crimp and fold the fabric. means whereby it maybe moved horizontally 'to initially feed the material' to the cups, andmeans for adjusting the folding device bodily with respect to thestitching mechanism.

2:2. In a cup feed overseaming machine for blind stitching belt loops, afolding device comprising stationary vertically projecting side wingsand a central crimping fin, a coi'iperating folding member movablevertically to engage and crimp and fold the fabric. means whereby it maybe moved horizontally to initially feed the material to the cups,-meansfor adjusting the, folding device bodily with respect to the stitchingmechanism. and a trimming device simulta neously and uniformlyadjustable with the folding device.

23. In a cup feed overseaming machine for blind stitching belt loops. afolding device comprising stationary vertically projecting side wingsand a central crimping fin. a cooperating folding member movableverticallyfto engage and crimp and fold the fabric. means whereby it maybe moved horizontally to initially feed the material to the cups. meansfor adjusting the fold ng device bodily with respect to the stitchingmechanism. and a trimming device including stationary ledger bladeswhich form extensinus of the side wings. I

24-; A sewing machine having a horizon-' tally reciprocating needle, alooper coopera strip of fabric so that its edges are brought together,means for supporting and feeding said folded strip, and a trimmingdevice for trimming the edges of the strip prior to the stitching of thesame. i

25. A sewing machine having a horizontally reciprocating needle, :1looper cooperating therewith, a folding device for folding a strip offabric so that its edges are brought together, means for supporting andfeeding said folded strip, a trimming device for trimming the edges ofthe strip prior to the stitching of the same, and means located betweenthe trimming device and the stitchin mechanism for deflecting thetrimmed-o edges.

26. A sewing machine having a horizontally reciprocating needle, alooper cooperating therewith, a folding device for folda.

ing a strip of fabric so that its edges .are brought together, means forsupporting and feeding said folded strip, a trimming device for trimmingthe edges of the strip prior to the stitching of the same, and means forsupporting said folding and trimming device whereby the same may beadjusted vertically relative to the needle.

In testimony whereof, I affix my sigmiture 30 in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES B. MOFFA'FI.

Witnesses:

J. C. RADNER, H. O. ABEL.

